N00814:398
The Christian's great interest. Or, A short treatise, divided into two parts. The first…
The Christian's great interest. Or, A short treatise, divided into two parts. The first whereof, containeth the [sic] trial of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly the [sic] way how to attain it: : Wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. / By William Guthrie, Minister of the Gospel, at New-Kilmarnock.The Christian's great interest. Or, A short treatise, divided into two parts. The first whereof, containeth te [sic] tryal of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly te [sic] way how to attain it: : Wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. / By William Guthrie, Minister of the Gospel, at New-Kilmarnock.
printed by T. Green for Nicholas Boone, 1701
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
O Lord, I am a lost and broken Creature by Nature, & by innumerable actual transgressions which I do confess particularly before thee this day; and although, being born within the visible Church, I was from the Womb in Covenant with thee, & had the same Sc•d unto me in Baptism, yet for a long time, I have lived without God in the world, senseless and ignorant of my Obligation, by virtue of that Covenant. Thou hast (at length) discovered unto me, and bound upon my heart, my miserable state in my self, and hast made manifest unto my heart, the satisfying relief thou hast provided by Christ Jesus, offering the same freely unto me, upon condition that I would accept of the same, & would close with the• as my God in Christ, warranting and commanding me upon my utmost Peril, to accept of this offer, and to flee unto Christ Jesus: yea, to my apprehension, now thou hast sovereignly determined ⟨p. 213⟩my heart, and shaped it for Christ Jesus, leading it out after him in the offer of the Gospel, causing me to approach unto the living God, to close so with Him, & to acquiesce in his offer, without any known guile. And that I may come up to that establishment of Spirit in this matter, which should be t• my comfort, and the praise of thy Glorious Grace, therefore I am here this day to put this matter out of question, by express words before thee, according to thy will. And now, […] unworthy as I am, do declare, That I […] that CHRIST JESUS, who was s• […] Jerusalem, was the Son of GOD, and the Saviour of the world; I do believe that record, That there is Life Eternal for men in Him, and in Him only: I do this day in my heart, please and •quiese in that device of saving Sinners by Him, and do intrust my Soul unto Him: I […] accept of Reconciliation with God through […], and do close with thee as my God in H•: I choose Him in all that he […], and all that may follow Him, and do resign up my sel•, […] I am, or have, unto thee, desiring it […] divorced from every thing have […] and that without exception […] of any thing, (consistent with […] edge) or •ended •ersion;